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A friend of mine claims that a .22 WMR or .22 LR loaded hot in single action revolver is the perfect handgun to hunt small game if you are already carrying a high powered rifle or shotgun for deer. He says that it is impossible to carry 2 long guns at the same time due to the weight. Therefore, when out hunting for deer, you could be carrying a .22 revolver to hunt rabbits and other small legal game. In small game animals, the .22 LR FMJ bullet zips through with little damage to the meat. However, the hotter loads of FMJ .22 LR or .22 WMR will tumble like .223 in a larger target such as a human BG. Is this true?

well... there was a time back when a person could be in real hot water if caught in possession of a rim fire while deer hunting. Since legal concealed carry was implimented I know one can carry his CCW now while hunting, and I suppose one could say the 22 was their CCW... could get sticky

as for 22 rim fire rounds "tumbling" like .223.... I don't think so. What I do remember from my days in the back of the ambulance was that 22 rounds could deflect off certain bones, follow the bones, and end up in completely different places than you would ever suspect....like an entry wound to the front shoulder...no exit wound ....and a collapsed lung

I first heard this debate back in to '60s, and it's never been settled that I know of. The kind of deer hunting I have always done, it would have made but little difference to be carrying an extra 5 pounds of .22LR rifle, as I would be going to a stand, not out stalking deer.

Of course back then it was illegal to be carrying a rimfire rifle in deer country wearing a deer tag, so it really was a moot arguement. And if you were wearing your small game tag, you would not want to be caught carrying a shotgun with deer slugs or a high power rifle. NY State had some wierd laws.

Also, out of "upland small game", the only ones you could legally take with a .22 were rabbit and squirrel, so your "camp meat" selections were kind of slim anyway, although fresh killed pheasant roasted over an open fire makes an excellent mid day meal in hunting camp. Don't ask me how I know.

drjoker wrote:1. A friend of mine claims that a .22 WMR or .22 LR loaded hot in single action revolver is the perfect handgun to hunt small game if you are already carrying a high powered rifle or shotgun for deer. 2. He says that it is impossible to carry 2 long guns at the same time due to the weight. 3. Therefore, when out hunting for deer, you could be carrying a .22 revolver to hunt rabbits and other small legal game. 4. In small game animals, the .22 LR FMJ bullet zips through with little damage to the meat. 5. However, the hotter loads of FMJ .22 LR or .22 WMR will tumble like .223 in a larger target such as a human BG. Is this true?

1. Not true. While a SA revolver, might be okay, it is not the perfect handgun. There is no reason that a SA would be better than a DA for .22WMR or semiautomatic for .22LR.
2. Also not true. Maybe not a very good idea or practical, but still possible.
3. If not illegal, you could. If you truly want to hunt deer you would not risk spooking a dear to shoot a rabbit.
4. Not necessary. It depends where you hit them.
5. I believe that is what this happened when president Reagan was shot in the chest.

i have one of those ruger mark 3 for target practice. what about that?

alvins wrote:i have one of those ruger mark 3 for target practice. what about that?

Good guns, those Rugers.

22 wmr tumbling: http://www.brassfetcher.com/index_files/Page1455.htm
22 lr tumbling: http://www.brassfetcher.com/Aguila%20Sn ... 0nose.html

Where is he getting FMJ .22LR?
I have seen assorted plated bullets, but no truly jacketed loads.

Those 60 grain Aguillas are far from the normal 22 bullet. Hard to stablize in flight, but are excellent penetrators.

threoh8 wrote:Where is he getting FMJ .22LR?
I have seen assorted plated bullets, but no truly jacketed loads.

Doh! Yeah, you're right, the copper plated lead bullets are definitely NOT FMJ.

P.S. My friend read this post and says that it IS FMJ, at least according to Winchester:
http://www.winchester.com/Products/rimf ... /X22M.aspx